Lamy rod well



(No Model.)-

G. J. B. RODWELL. SIGN LETTER.

No. 444,507. 4 Patented Jan. 13,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE .T. B. RODWELL, OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF 'liVO-THIRDS TO SAMUEL JOHN MOORE AND HERBERT CANNING SECORD, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

SIGN-LETTER.

SPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,507, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed January 8, 1890.

Serial No. 336,294. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE JAMES BEL LAMY RODWELL, inventor, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province 5 of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certain new and Improved Sign Letter or Symbol, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of letters or symbols designed chiefly for signs on the glass panes of windows and doors, and which are stamped out of sheet metal; and the object of the invention isn otonly to produce a letter or symbol which shall present a striking and attractive appearance, but more particularly to shield and protect the front or obverse side from becoming soiled or defaced; and it consists, essentially, in forming the sign letter or symbol with a recess or concavity in its front or obverse side and securing the same with the said front or obverse side against the pane of glass, all as hereinafter more fullydescribed, and specifically set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a view showing the letters cemented on the back of a transparent body. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the front or obverse side of a letter made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a crosssection through as y in Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale.

Heretofore in the class of sign-letters on which my invention is an improvement it has been customary to form the letter with the convexity on the front or obverse side of the letter, and to fasten the same with its concaved back or reverse side against the outer side of the pane of glass. This arrangement is subject to many defects and objections, among which may be mentioned that the letter is exposed to the inclemency of the weather, so that it requires a suitably-enameled coating to protect its face, and even the enamel is disfigured by dirt and action of the weather. The said exposure affects the attaching cement of the letter and is liable to cause the 45 same to drop from its position on the glass pane. The exposed convex front or obverse side of the letter presents a dull appearance of a plainly-painted letter. By forming the recess or concave on the front or obverse side of the letter and by gilding or otherwise ornamenting the said recessed or concaved front and securing the face or front to a pane of glass a strikiugly-brilliant sign-letter is produced, the brilliancy being greatly enhanced by the transparency and high polish of the glass cover and the refraction of the light admitted through the glass front. Furthermore, by covering and shielding the recessed or concaved front of the letter or symbol by a pane of glass the usual expensive enamel may be dispensed with.

In the drawings, A represents a sign-letter, which I prefer to stamp out of sheet-copper or other light material by means of suitable dies which form the front or obverse side of the letter concaved or recessed, preferably V- shaped or angular in cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 3, in contradistinction to the formation of the concave or. recess in the back or reverse side of the letter, as heretofore formed, a flat edge being left around the front or obverse side of the letter, so that the said front or obverse side may be readily and, securely cemented to the glass or other transparent body 13.

The concaved or recessed surface of the letter A is shining, gilded, or otherwise ornamented. I prefer, as before stated, to make the recess in the front or obverse side of the letter angular or V-shaped in form, as shown in Fig. 3, as the refraction of the light through the glass upon the V or angularly shaped recess produces a much more brilliant effect than when the said recess is simply concave in form.

a represents a narrow groove which I make around the edge of the letter, in which groove the cement for fastening the letter to the glass is inserted. This groove is not absolutely necessary, but will be found to be an advantage in large letters.

The glass cover B, placed over the front or obverse side of the letter,not only greatly increases the brilliancy of the letter, but also protects its surface, so that its brilliancy is preserved for an indefinite time,

The letters being on the inside of the window, they are protected from mischievous boys, who are tempted to pick them off with their knives when exposed on the outside of the Window, and the smooth convex form of the back or reverse side of the letter does not present any obstruction to the cleaning of the inside of the window.

What I claim as my inventionis I. An improved sign letter or symbol of the class herein specified formed recessed in its IO front or obverse side, as set forth.

2. An improved sign letter or symbol formed recessed in its front or obverse side and raised correspondingly on its back or reverse side, as set forth.

[5 3. A sign letter or symbol formed recessed in its front or obverse side and with an attaching-edge on said side, as set forth.

4. A sign letter or symbol formed recessed in its front or obverse side and with an attach- 2o ing-edge on said side and raised correspondin gly on its back or reverse side, as set forth.

5. A sign letter or symbol formed V-shaped in cross-section of its body, the said recess being on its front or obverse side, as set forth.

(3. A sign or advertisement composed of letters or symbols formed recessed in their obverse sides and secured thereat on the inner side of a glass pane, as set forth.

7. A sign letter, symbol, or ornament formed recessed in its front side, the said recess being shining, gilded, or otherwise ornamented,

an attaching-edge surrounding said recessed face to receive the cement which holds the sign letter, symbol, or ornament in position with its polished, gilded, or otherwise ornw mented face next the glass or other transparent material, as set forth.

8. A sign letter, symbol, or ornament recessed in its front or obverse side, the said recess being shining, gilded, or otherwise or- 40 namen ted,in combination with a transparent cover placed over the recessed face, as set forth.

9. A sign letter, symbol, or ornament having a recessed face shining, gilded, or otherwise ornamented, in combination with atransparent cover cemented air-tight to said recessed face, as set forth.

10. A sign letter, symbol, or ornament hav ing an angnlarly'recessed shining, gilded, or otherwise ornamented face surrounded by an edge to receive the cement which secures it to the glass with its gilded face next to said glass, as set forth.

Toronto, November 30, 1889.

GEORGE J. B. RODWELL.

In presence of CHARLES C. BALDWIN,

CUMMINGS. 

